Tray structure



June 15, 1954 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 R. GUYER 2,681,l 73 TRAY STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Reyna/d6 Gaye!" June 15, 11954 GUYER 2,681,173

TRAY STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 15, 1954 Reynolds Guyer, Waldorf Paper Minn.

St. Paul, Minn,v assignor to Products Company, St. 'Paul,

Application February l i, 1949,. Serial v N0. 76,250

4 Claims. 1

Myinvention relates to an improvement in a tray and deals with a type of tray which may act as a tall basket for containing fruit, vegetablesoi'.

other commodities.

The object of the presentinvention lies in the provision of a tray which may be glued and folded into a fiat condition for transportationand stora e and yet which may be erected into tray.

formation quickly and easily. The tray, is pro.-

vided with reinfcrcedeside and end Walls which 1 fold into a flat condition for gluing-and storage, but which may be quickly folded to erect the side walls into tra .-formation. As a result the tray. requires little space for storage, but still formsa strong receptacle for various commodities.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that my. tray can be folded and glued onv con ventional foldin and gluing equipment, While the tray includes doubled side walls to provide strength and rigidity and provides sidewall flaps which are glued to the end walls ofthe tray, thevarious folding and gluing operations maybe accomplished on equipment commonly used for car.- tons of various types.

A feature .ofthe present invention liesinthe provision of flaps foldably connected to the side walls of the tray and designed to over-lie the'portions of the end walls during the folding'andgl uing operation. Means are provided for compensating for the varying thicknesses of thediiferent' parts of the tray so that sufiicient pressure may.- be. exerted on the body of the tray to properlygad here the side wall flaps tothe end Walls.

Difiiculty is often experienced in ,gluing,--trays; which are relatively long and narrow. andwhich' are provided with doubled side Wall edges. As. the, side walls are folded onto the bottomwall ofthe: tray for gluing the side wall flaps to the endwall thethickness of the center portion of the carton. usually greatly exceeds the thickness :of the end;

portions of the carton. Asa result it is diffieult to maintain proper sealing pressure against th flaps connecting the side walls to the end walls. I

provide a means of building up the thickness of the end portions of the carton so that proper sealing pressure may be applied and-an effective adherence of the various obtained.

An added feature of the present invention. lies in the means for locking the carton into :setup condition. End Wall flaps are provided which extend over the flaps connecting the sidewalls to the end walls. These end wall flaps lock; in notches between the side walls and the endwalls to hold the carton in erect form.

parts of the. carton; is,

These locking 2 flaps on the end-walls also serve .to co-nceal the connecting flaps and to provide a' relatively smooth inner wall for the tray ends.

Theseand other objects and novel featuresof i. my inventionwill be more clearly and fullysetv forth in the following specification and claims.

In the. drawings, forming a part of my specifi cation:

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticview ofthe blank from which my tray or basket is formed. Figure 2 is a plan viewof the trayor basket blank-afterthe marginal side wall flaps have been.

foldedontothe side walls of the carton and Jadhered thereto.

Figure 3 is a planview. ofan end of the blank with one side wall foldedonto the bottom panel.

Figure 4 is-a plan view of one end of the blank showing both side Walls fol tom wall.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the cartonin coml letely folded condition.

Figure file a perspective view of an endof-the carton in partially set up form.

ded to overlie the .bot-I Figure '7 is a perspective view of thetrayor basket in completely set up form.

The basket 'A includesa bottom panel [0 which is-foldably connectedalong parallel fold lines ll and-l2 to side wailpanels I 3 and M. The side Wall panels-l3 and Marc along parallel fold lines I5 flaps l1 and. le-respectively- The. bottom panel i ll is preferably rectangular in that the basket walls willtaper outwardly.

The bottompanel I G islikewiseconnected along right angularly extendin parallel fold-lines 20-. and 2 I to end walls zi and '23. The end walls '22;

and: 23 are hingedlyconnected alongv parallel fold lines stand 2t0l0cking panels 26 andzl; The specificishape of theseilocking flapswill belater described. in detail. The end walls -2 2--andi23-in preferred form of construction lines Z-ifland 25 so that the sidewalls of the car ton: will incline outwardly. The flaps I! and 13; are designed: to reinforce the side-walls of;the;ca rton and accordingly are folded upon the side walls I 3 and brand adhered thereto as; indicated in. Figurez ofthe drawings. In this figuretheflaps I land l Bare foldedunderneaththe panels I stand I l-and the marginal edges of the flapsareshown in dotted outlines. indioatedin Figures 1 and. 2; the. flaps -l l and I g have tconverging opposed. ends :ilQand tllsothat whenithese flaps aread hingedly connected and l5to sidewall form while'the side} walls It and it may be wider along-the fold lines It and IE5 than along the foldlines II and |2 so gradually increase in width from the fold lines 2lyand 2l .to the fold.

hered to the side walls the ends of the flaps will be flush with the ends of the side walls.

Connecting flaps 3| and 32 are hingedly connected along fold lines 33 and 34 to the opposite ends of the side wall panel l3. The flaps 3| and 32 do not extend the full length of the side wall ends, the inner edges of the flaps terminating in spaced relation to the fold line so as to provide an opening 35 between the connecting flap 3| and the end panel 22 and to provide a similar opening 36 between the flap 32 and the end wall 23. Similar connecting flaps 31 and 39 are foldably connected along fold lines 49 and 4| to opposite ends of the side wall panel IA. The flaps 31 and 39 do not extend the full length of the ends of the side wall l4, terminating in spaced relation to the fold line |2 to provide openings 42 and 43 between the connecting flaps 31 and 39 and the end walls 22 and 23.

An anchoring flap 44 is hingedly connected to the connecting flap 3| along a diagonal fold line 45 which is directed toward the juncture between the fold lines I and 29. A similar anchoring flap 46 is foldably connected to the connecting flap 32 along a diagonal fold line 41 which is directed toward the juncture between the fold lines I and 2!. The anchoring flaps 44 and 46 are anchored to the end wall panels 22 and 23 by a suitable adhesive or similar means as will be later described in detail.

An anchoring flap 49 is foldably connected to the end of the connecting flap 31 along a diagonal fold line 59. The fold line 59 is directed toward the juncture between the fold lines |2 and 29. A similar anchoring flap is foldably connected to the connecting flap 39 along a diagonal fold line 52 which is directed toward the juncture between fold lines l2 and 2|. The anchoring flaps 49 and 5| are secured to the end wall panels 22 and 23 in the formation of the carton as will be later stated.

A bearing flap 53 is foldably connected to the anchoring flap 44 along a fold line 54 which is parallel to, but spaced slightly from, the fold line 24. The bearing flap 55 is foldably connected to the anchoring fiap 49 along a fold line 55 which is aligned with the fold line 54. A bearing flap 51 is foldably connected to the anchoring flap 49 along a fold line 59 which is parallel to, and spaced slightly from, the fold line 25. ing flap 69 is foldably connected to the anchoring flap 5| along a fold line 5| which is aligned with the fold line 59.

It will be noted that the side edges of the locking panels 26 and 21 converge together so that when the locking panels are folded upon the end wall panels 22 and 23, the side edges of the looking panels tend to follow the side edges of the end wall panels. However, near the extremity of the locking panels 26, laterally extending projections 62 are provided which engage against the free edges 63 and 64 of the side wall panels l3 and I4 below the attachment of the side wall panels to the connecting panels 3| and 31. Similar laterally extending projections 65 on the locking panel 21 are designed to engage against the free edges 66 and 61 of the side walls l3 and I4, below the connection of these side walls with the connecting flaps 32 and 39. Notches 69 and are formed in the ends of the locking panels 26 and 21 for a reason which will later be obvious.

In forming the tray from the blank illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings the first step of construction is the folding of the flaps l1 and I9 beneath the side wall panels l3 and I4 and ad- The bearhering these elements together as shown Figure 2 of the drawings. The carton is next folded along one of the fold lines or l2, Figure 3 showing the carton being folded along the fold line II. This action causes the side wall panel |3 to overlie a portion of the bottom panel l0 and causes the connecting flaps 3| and 32, the anchoring flaps 44 and 46, and the bearing flaps 53 and 51 to overlie the end wall panels 22 and 23, the bearing flaps projecting over the fold lines 24 and 25 to overlie portions of the locking panels 25 and21. Before the folding operation thus described adhesive is applied to the anchoring panels 44 and 46 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As also shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, adhesive is applied to the anchoring panels 49 and 5| and as a next operation the carton is folded along the fold line |2 so that the side wall panel 4 overlies a portion of the bottom panel l9. Due to the relatively narrow width of the bottom panel l9, the side wall panels I3 and M are shown in overlapping relationship after this second folding operation.

The folding of the side wall i4 along the fold line |2 causes the connecting flaps 31 and 39, the anchoring flaps 49 and 5|, and the bearin flaps 55 and 69 to overlie portions of the end wall panels 22 and 23, the bearing flaps 55 and 69 extending partially over the fold lines 24 and 25 to overlie parts of the locking panels 26 and 21. This places each end of the tray in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

As a final step of the folding operation the locking panels 26 and 21 are folded to overlie the end wall panels 22 and 23. It will be noted from Figure 4 of the drawings that the fold lines between the various anchoring flaps which are adhered to the end panels 22 and 23 fall slightly short of the fold lines 24 and 25. As a result the inward folding of the locking panels 26 and 21 causes these bearing flaps to fold therewith and to overlie the anchoring flaps to which they are foldably attached. The bearing flap 53 overlies the anchoring flap 44, the bearing flap 55 overlies the anchoring flap 49, the bearing flap 51 overlies the anchoring flap 46 and the bearing flap 69 overlies the anchored flap 5|. Thus when the carton is completely folded into the flat condition illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, there are four thicknesses of carton stock extending substantially over the adhesive coated areas of the anchoring flaps. The end panels 22 and 23 form the lowermost layer of carton stock, the anchoring flaps 44, 46, 49 and 5| form the next above layer; the bearing flaps 53, 55, 51 and 69 form the third layer of carton stock; and the locking panels 25 and 21 form the uppermost layer. a result when the carton passes between pressure belts or the like, sufficient pressure may be exerted upon these adhesive coated areas to cause adherence.

It will be noted that the center portion of the tray is composed of five thicknesses of carton stock due to the overlapping of the double thickness side wall portions. Therefore if the hearing flaps described were omitted from the structure pressure belts or rollers extending over the carton as it moves longitudinally thereunder would not create the necessary pressure against the thinner end portions of the carton. However, by proportioning the flaps properly with relation to the width of the tray bottom and height of the side walls, rollers or belts may be provided outwardly of the thickest center portion of the carton which tend to apply pressure; and as the ends are only of one thickness of stock, thinner than the thickest center portion, suficient pressure to adhere the flaps is provided under almost any circumstances.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and as shown in dotted outline in Figure 5 of the drawings, an aperture 7| is provided near the center of the bottom panel 10. This aperture is of value in setting up the tray into the position shown in Figure 7. In order to set up the tray from the flat condition shown in Figure 5, the carton is placed into a guiding frame in such a manner that a pin or dowel extends through the aperture?! and presses against the side walls 13 and I l overlying the bottom. This action unfolds the side walls to the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings so that the upper edges of the side walls are spaced apart and the fingers may be inserted therebetween. The side walls are next folded outwardly until the connecting flaps prevent further outward folding, this action tending to erect the end wall panels 22 and 23. The unfolding of the side wall panels from the base, partially unfolds the locking panels 29 and 27. To complete the setting up operation it is only necessary to swing the locking panels down into the locking position shown in Figure 7, the laterally extending projections 82 and 05 engaging against the free edges of the side wall panels 13 and I6.

The notches 69 and 70 in the ends of the looking panels 26 and 21 prevent the locking panels from overlapping the double thickness portions of the side walls 13 and I l so as to build up a still greater thickness of carton stock at these points. Due to the tapering form of the side walls, the locking fiap would otherwise slightly overlap the upper ends of the side walls in folded condition to add another thickness of carton stock to the already thickest portion of the carton.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my tray, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A tray in flat form formed of sheet material of substantially uniform thickness, including a bottom panel, side wall panels foldably connected to opposite edges of said bottom panel I and folded onto said bottom panel reinforcing flaps secured in surface contact with said side wall panels, connecting flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of each side wall panel, and arranged in overlapping relation, anchoring flaps foldably connected along diagonal fold lines to said connecting flaps, said anchoring flaps lying in the same plane as one side wall panel and the lowermost connecting flap, end wall panels foldably connected to opposite ends of said bottom panel and lying in the same plane, said connecting flaps and said anchoring flaps overlying said end panels, adhesive means securing said anchoring flaps to said end panels, bearing flaps hingedly secured to said anchoring flaps and folded to overlie the same, said bearing flaps lying in the same planes as the reinforcing flap on said one side wall panel and in the same plane as the uppermost connecting flap, the other side wall panel and its reinforcing flap overlapping said one side wall panel and its reinforcing flap forming a portion of five thicknesses.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and including liner panels foldably connected to the end edges of the end panels and folded to overlie said bearing flaps, said liner panel being in the plane of the overlapped portion of said other side wall panel.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and including liner panels foldably connected to the end edges of the end panels, and in which the lines of fold connecting the anchoring flaps to the bearing flaps are parallel to the said end edges, the liner panels overlying the bearing fiaps and lying in the plane of the overlapped portion of said other side wall panel.

4. A folded tray structure formed of sheet material of substantially uniform thickess including a bottom panel, side wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said bottom panel, said side wall panels overlying said bottom panel with the side walls in overlapping relation, reinforcing flaps hingedly secured to said side wall panels along the overlapping edges thereof and secured in surface contact to said side wall panels, end wall panels foldably connected to opposite ends of said bottom panel, connecting flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of said side wall panels and overlying said end wall panels with the connecting flaps in overlapping relation, anchoring flaps foldably connected to said connecting flaps and overlying said end wall panels in surface contact therewith, the anchoring flaps lying in the same plane as the lowermost connecting flap, adhesive means holding said anchoring flaps in said surface contact, bearing flaps foldably connected to said anchoring flaps and doubled thereover to overlie said anchoring flaps, the bearing flaps lying in the same plane as the uppermost comiecting flap, and a liner panel hingedly connected to each end wall panel and overlying the corresponding end wall panel, as well as the anchoring flaps and bearing fiaps secured thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 17,975 Bergstein Feb. 24, 1931 993,919 Wagnitz May 30, 1911 1,667,017 Tinsley Apr. 24, 1928 1,736,720 Myers Nov. 19, 1929 1,758,513 Gross May 13, 1930 1,778,462 Nourse et al Oct. 14, 1930 2,008,443 Froehlig July 16, 1935 2,009,828 Wild July 30, 1935 2,083,036 Schmidt June 8, 1937 2,214,813 Guyer Sept. 17, 1940 2,220,076 C'arruth Nov. 5, 1940 2,465,588 Hartman Mar. 29, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,871 Great Britain May 29, 1911 463,403 France Dec. 16, 1913 

